# Wisconsin's 16th Senate district

The 16th Senate district of Wisconsin is one of 33 districts in the Wisconsin Senate. Located in south-central Wisconsin, the district comprises much of eastern Dane County, western Jefferson County, and part of southwest Dodge County. It includes the cities of Fitchburg, Fort Atkinson, Lake Mills, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, and Waterloo, and the villages of Cottage Grove, Deerfield, and Marshall, and parts of the city of Madison and the village of McFarland. It also contains Lake Kegonsa State Park and most of Lake Koshkonong.

## Current elected officials

Melissa Ratcliff is the senator representing the 16th district. She was first elected in the 2024 general election. Before serving as senator, she served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2023 to 2025, representing Sun Prairie and Madison's far east side.
Each Wisconsin State Senate district is composed of three Wisconsin State Assembly districts. The 16th Senate district comprises the 46th, 47th, and 48th Assembly districts. The current representatives of those districts are:
* Assembly District 46: Joan Fitzgerald (D–Fort Atkinson)
* Assembly District 47: Randy Udell (D–Fitchburg)
* Assembly District 48: Andrew Hysell (D–Sun Prairie)
The district crosses two congressional districts. The portion of the district in Dodge and Jefferson counties fall within Wisconsin's 5th congressional district, which is represented by U.S. Representative Scott L. Fitzgerald. The remainder of the district, in Dane County, falls within Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district, represented by U.S. Representative Mark Pocan.
* Downtown Fort Atkinson
* Aztalan State Park
* Commons Park, downtown Lake Mills
* Lake Kegonsa State Park
* Stoughton public library
* Neighborhood in Fitchburg.
* Fitchburg farm
* Downtown Sun Prairie
* Sun Prairie Downtown Historic District

## Past senators

Notable past senators include:
* Christopher Latham Sholes, 1848-1850, "father of the typewriter"
* John Sharpstein, 1852, Justice of the Supreme Court of California
* Nelson Dewey, 1854-1856, 1st Governor of Wisconsin
* J. Allen Barber, 1856-1858, U.S. Congressman (1871-1875), 15th Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly
* George Cochrane Hazelton, 1868-1872, U.S. Congressman (1877-1883), 1st Attorney General for the District of Columbia
* John J. Blaine, 1909-1913, 24th Governor of Wisconsin, United States Senator (1927-1933)
* Gaylord Nelson, 1949-1958, 35th Governor of Wisconsin, United States Senator (1963-1981)
* Charles Chvala, 1985-2005, Majority Leader (1999-2002)
* Mark F. Miller, 2005-2021, Majority Leader (2012-2013)
| Senator | Party | Notes | Session | Years | District Definition |
| District created | District created | District created | District created | 1848 | Kenosha County |
| C. Latham Sholes | Dem. | | 1st | 1848 | Kenosha County |
| C. Latham Sholes | Free Soil | | 2nd | 1849 | Kenosha County |
| Elijah Steele | Dem. | Resigned. | 3rd | 1850 | Kenosha County |
| Orson S. Head | Whig | Won 1851 special election. | 4th | 1851 | Kenosha County |
| John Sharpstein | Dem. | Redistricted to 8th district | 5th | 1852 | Kenosha County |
| Joel C. Squires | Dem. | Resigned. | 6th | 1853 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| James W. Seaton | Dem. | Won 1853 special election | 6th | 1853 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Nelson Dewey | Dem. | | 7th | 1854 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Nelson Dewey | Dem. | | 8th | 1855 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| J. Allen Barber | Rep. | | 9th | 1856 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| J. Allen Barber | Rep. | | 10th | 1857 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Noah Virgin | Rep. | | 11th | 1858 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Noah Virgin | Rep. | | 12th | 1859 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Noah Virgin | Rep. | | 13th | 1860 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Noah Virgin | Rep. | | 14th | 1861 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Milas K. Young | Rep. | | 15th | 1862 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Milas K. Young | Rep. | | 16th | 1863 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Milas K. Young | Natl. Union | | 17th | 1864 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Milas K. Young | Natl. Union | | 18th | 1865 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| John H. Rountree | Natl. Union | | 19th | 1866 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| John H. Rountree | Natl. Union | | 20th | 1867 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| George C. Hazelton | Rep. | | 21st | 1868 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| George C. Hazelton | Rep. | | 22nd | 1869 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| George C. Hazelton | Rep. | | 23rd | 1870 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| George C. Hazelton | Rep. | | 24th | 1871 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| John C. Holloway | Rep. | | 25th | 1872 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| John C. Holloway | Rep. | | 26th | 1873 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| John C. Holloway | Rep. | | 27th | 1874 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| John C. Holloway | Rep. | | 28th | 1875 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Oscar C. Hathaway | Rep. | | 29th | 1876 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Oscar C. Hathaway | Rep. | | 30th | 1877 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Oscar C. Hathaway | Rep. | | 31st | 1878 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Oscar C. Hathaway | Rep. | | 32nd | 1879 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| George W. Ryland | Rep. | | 33rd | 1880 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| George W. Ryland | Rep. | | 34th | 1881 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| George W. Ryland | Rep. | | 35th | 1882 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| George W. Ryland | Rep. | | 36th | 1883–1884 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Edward I. Kidd | Rep. | | 37th | 1885–1886 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Edward I. Kidd | Rep. | | 38th | 1887–1888 | 1852–1855 1856–1860 1861–1865 1866–1870 1871–1875 1876–1881 1882–1887 Grant County |
| Edward I. Kidd | Rep. | | 39th | 1889–1890 | Crawford & Grant counties |
| Edward I. Kidd | Rep. | | 40th | 1891–1892 | Crawford & Grant counties |
| Charles H. Baxter | Rep. | | 41st | 1893–1894 | Crawford and Richland counties, and Northern Grant County Town of Beetown Town of Bloomington Town of Boscobel Town of Castle Rock Town of Fennimore Town of Hickory Grove Town of Lancaster Town of Little Grant Town of Marion Town of Muscoda Town of Mount Hope Town of Mount Ida Town of Millville Town of Patch Grove Town of Watterstown Town of Wingville Town of Woodman Town of Wyalusing |
| Charles H. Baxter | Rep. | | 42nd | 1895–1896 | Crawford and Richland counties, and Northern Grant County Town of Beetown Town of Bloomington Town of Boscobel Town of Castle Rock Town of Fennimore Town of Hickory Grove Town of Lancaster Town of Little Grant Town of Marion Town of Muscoda Town of Mount Hope Town of Mount Ida Town of Millville Town of Patch Grove Town of Watterstown Town of Wingville Town of Woodman Town of Wyalusing |
| Charles H. Baxter | Rep. | | 43rd | 1897–1898 | Grant and Iowa counties |
| Charles H. Baxter | Rep. | | 44th | 1899–1900 | Grant and Iowa counties |
| Edward E. Burns | Rep. | | 45th | 1901–1902 | Grant and Iowa counties |
| Edward E. Burns | Rep. | | 46th | 1903–1904 | Crawford and Grant counties |
| Edward E. Burns | Rep. | | 47th | 1905–1906 | Crawford and Grant counties |
| Edward E. Burns | Rep. | | 48th | 1907–1908 | Crawford and Grant counties |
| John J. Blaine | Rep. | | 49th | 1909–1910 | Crawford and Grant counties |
| John J. Blaine | Rep. | | 50th | 1911–1912 | Crawford and Grant counties |
| Robert Glenn | Rep. | Elected 1912. Died 1915. | 51st | 1913–1914 | Crawford, Grant, and Richland counties |
| Robert Glenn | Rep. | Elected 1912. Died 1915. | 52nd | 1915–1916 | Crawford, Grant, and Richland counties |
| Crawford, Grant, and Richland counties |||
| Henry Edgar Roethe | Rep. | | 53rd | 1917–1918 | Crawford, Grant, and Richland counties |
| Henry Edgar Roethe | Rep. | | 54th | 1919–1920 | Crawford, Grant, and Richland counties |
| Henry Edgar Roethe | Rep. | | 55th | 1921–1922 | Crawford, Grant, and Richland counties |
| Henry Edgar Roethe | Rep. | | 56th | 1923–1924 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Edward J. Roethe | Rep. | | 57th | 1925–1926 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Edward J. Roethe | Rep. | | 58th | 1927–1928 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Edward J. Roethe | Rep. | | 59th | 1929–1930 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Edward J. Roethe | Rep. | | 60th | 1931–1932 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| William D. Carroll | Dem. | | 61st | 1933–1934 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| William D. Carroll | Dem. | | 62nd | 1935–1936 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Edward J. Roethe | Rep. | | 63rd | 1937–1938 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Edward J. Roethe | Rep. | | 64th | 1939–1940 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Helmar Lewis | Rep. | | 65th | 1941–1942 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Helmar Lewis | Rep. | | 66th | 1943–1944 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Foster B. Porter | Rep. | | 67th | 1945–1946 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Foster B. Porter | Rep. | | 68th | 1947–1948 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Foster B. Porter | Rep. | | 69th | 1949–1950 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Foster B. Porter | Rep. | | 70th | 1951–1952 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Foster B. Porter | Rep. | | 71st | 1953–1954 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Foster B. Porter | Rep. | | 72nd | 1955–1956 | Crawford, Grant, and Vernon counties |
| Gaylord Nelson | Dem. | Redistricted from 26th district. | 73rd | 1957–1958 | Most of Dane County |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 74th | 1959–1960 | Most of Dane County |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 75th | 1961–1962 | Most of Dane County |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 76th | 1963–1964 | Most of Dane County |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 77th | 1965–1966 | Most of Dane County |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 78th | 1967–1968 | Most of Dane County |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 79th | 1969–1970 | Most of Dane County |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 80th | 1971–1972 | Most of Dane County |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 81st | 1973–1974 | Parts of Dane County Town of Bristol Town of Dunkirk Town of Rutland Town of Windsor Town of York and Northern Rock County Town of Union |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 82nd | 1975–1976 | Parts of Dane County Town of Bristol Town of Dunkirk Town of Rutland Town of Windsor Town of York and Northern Rock County Town of Union |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 83rd | 1977–1978 | Parts of Dane County Town of Bristol Town of Dunkirk Town of Rutland Town of Windsor Town of York and Northern Rock County Town of Union |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 84th | 1979–1980 | Parts of Dane County Town of Bristol Town of Dunkirk Town of Rutland Town of Windsor Town of York and Northern Rock County Town of Union |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 85th | 1981–1982 | Parts of Dane County Town of Bristol Town of Dunkirk Town of Rutland Town of Windsor Town of York and Northern Rock County Town of Union |
| Carl W. Thompson | Dem. | | 86th | 1983–1984 | Parts of Dane County Town of Bristol Town of Dunkirk Town of Rutland Town of Windsor Town of York Part of Rock County Town of Union City of Evansville Northern Green County Town of Brooklyn Town of Exeter Town of New Glarus Town of York Village of New Glarus |
| Charles Chvala | Dem. | | 87th | 1985–1986 | Eastern Dane County Town of Bristol Town of Dunkirk Town of Rutland Town of Windsor Part of Jefferson County Town of Sumner Northwest Rock County Town of Fulton Town of Milton City of Milton Most of Green County Town of Albany Town of Decatur Town of Spring Grove City of Monroe |
| Charles Chvala | Dem. | | 88th | 1987–1988 | Eastern Dane County Town of Bristol Town of Dunkirk Town of Rutland Town of Windsor Part of Jefferson County Town of Sumner Northwest Rock County Town of Fulton Town of Milton City of Milton Most of Green County Town of Albany Town of Decatur Town of Spring Grove City of Monroe |
| Charles Chvala | Dem. | | 89th | 1989–1990 | Eastern Dane County Town of Bristol Town of Dunkirk Town of Rutland Town of Windsor Part of Jefferson County Town of Sumner Northwest Rock County Town of Fulton Town of Milton City of Milton Most of Green County Town of Albany Town of Decatur Town of Spring Grove City of Monroe |
| Charles Chvala | Dem. | | 90th | 1991–1992 | Eastern Dane County Town of Bristol Town of Dunkirk Town of Rutland Town of Windsor Part of Jefferson County Town of Sumner Northwest Rock County Town of Fulton Town of Milton City of Milton Most of Green County Town of Albany Town of Decatur Town of Spring Grove City of Monroe |
| Charles Chvala | Dem. | | 91st | 1993–1994 | Part of Dane County Southern Columbia County Part of Rock County City of Edgerton Ward 3, Town of Fulton |
| Charles Chvala | Dem. | | 92nd | 1995–1996 | Part of Dane County Southern Columbia County Part of Rock County City of Edgerton Ward 3, Town of Fulton |
| Charles Chvala | Dem. | | 93rd | 1997–1998 | Part of Dane County Southern Columbia County Part of Rock County City of Edgerton Ward 3, Town of Fulton |
| Charles Chvala | Dem. | | 94th | 1999–2000 | Part of Dane County Southern Columbia County Part of Rock County City of Edgerton Ward 3, Town of Fulton |
| Charles Chvala | Dem. | | 95th | 2001–2002 | Part of Dane County Southern Columbia County Part of Rock County City of Edgerton Ward 3, Town of Fulton |
| Charles Chvala | Dem. | | 96th | 2003–2004 | Part of Dane County Southern Columbia County Part of Sauk County City of Merrimac Village of Merrimac |
| Mark F. Miller | Dem. | | 97th | 2005–2006 | Part of Dane County Southern Columbia County Part of Sauk County City of Merrimac Village of Merrimac |
| Mark F. Miller | Dem. | | 98th | 2007–2008 | Part of Dane County Southern Columbia County Part of Sauk County City of Merrimac Village of Merrimac |
| Mark F. Miller | Dem. | | 99th | 2009–2010 | Part of Dane County Southern Columbia County Part of Sauk County City of Merrimac Village of Merrimac |
| Mark F. Miller | Dem. | | 100th | 2011–2012 | Part of Dane County Southern Columbia County Part of Sauk County City of Merrimac Village of Merrimac |
| Mark F. Miller | Dem. | | 101st | 2013–2014 | Central Dane County Town of Dunn Town of Madison Town of Pleasant Springs Town of Sun Prairie Village of Cottage Grove Village of McFarland City of Sun Prairie Part of City of Madison Part of City of Fitchburg |
| Mark F. Miller | Dem. | | 102nd | 2015–2016 | Central Dane County Town of Dunn Town of Madison Town of Pleasant Springs Town of Sun Prairie Village of Cottage Grove Village of McFarland City of Sun Prairie Part of City of Madison Part of City of Fitchburg |
| Mark F. Miller | Dem. | | 103rd | 2017–2018 | Central Dane County Town of Dunn Town of Madison Town of Pleasant Springs Town of Sun Prairie Village of Cottage Grove Village of McFarland City of Sun Prairie Part of City of Madison Part of City of Fitchburg |
| Mark F. Miller | Dem. | | 104th | 2019–2020 | Central Dane County Town of Dunn Town of Madison Town of Pleasant Springs Town of Sun Prairie Village of Cottage Grove Village of McFarland City of Sun Prairie Part of City of Madison Part of City of Fitchburg |
| Melissa Agard | Dem. | | 105th | 2021–2022 | Central Dane County Town of Dunn Town of Madison Town of Pleasant Springs Town of Sun Prairie Village of Cottage Grove Village of McFarland City of Sun Prairie Part of City of Madison Part of City of Fitchburg |
| Melissa Agard | Dem. | | 106th | 2023–2024 | Central Dane County |
| Melissa Ratcliff | Dem. | | 107th | 2025–2026 | Eastern Dane County Western Jefferson County part of southwest Dodge County |